Detroit Department of Transportation

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Detroit Department of Transportation
Locale Detroit, Michigan
Transit type Bus
Began operation 1922
No. of lines 52
Daily ridership 133,996 (weekday 2006)
Operator(s) Detroit Department of Transportation

The Detroit Department of Transportation (or DDOT, D-Dot) is the public transit operator in Detroit, Michigan.

Contents

[edit] History

The DDOT was created in 1922 as the Department of Street Railways. DSR began bus service in 1925, and the department became the DDOT in 1974 under the Detroit City Charter (Detroit City Code Reference 7-1401).

Streetcar services was discontinued in 1956, with rail transit not resuming service until the Detroit People Mover was added in 1987. The People Mover is currently operated by a separate city agency called the Detroit Transportation Corporation.

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation is the suburban bus system providing services outside the city, although SMART buses come in and out of the city on their routes. Visitors to the city can distinguish the two types of buses by their colors: DDOT buses have green and yellow stripes; SMART buses have red and orange stripes (both buses depicted on this page).

DDOT drivers initiated a "wildcat" strike on the morning of May 23, 2007. Residents of Detroit were forced to change their travel plans while DDOT drivers publicly aired their frustrations over the lack of security on buses and travel routes. In fact, many drivers reported that crimes such as assault, robbery and even rape had occurred on their coaches. A temporary agreement was reached between DDOT officials and the Wayne County sheriff's department, granting 24 hours of protection by sheriff's deputies until city council had a chance to make a formal decision on the matter.

On May 24, 2007, after a lengthy and heated discussion between representatives from both DDOT and the Wayne County sheriff's office, Detroit City Council voted 5 to 4 in favor of having armed deputies on many of the city's heavily traveled transit routes. It is estimated that approximately 130,000 riders were affected by the strike.

[edit] Fares

A Detroit Department of Transportation bus along Woodward Avenue.
A Detroit Department of Transportation bus along Woodward Avenue.
A Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) bus, also along Woodward Avenue.
A Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) bus, also along Woodward Avenue.
  • Adult Fare - $1.50
  • Student Fare (w/DDOT student ID card) - $0.75
  • Transfer - $0.25
  • Medicare Card Holders (Half Fare) - $0.75
  • Medicare Card Holders (Transfer) - $0.10
  • DDOT Monthly GoPass Fare - $47.00
  • DDOT Bi-Weekly GoPass Fare - $27.50
  • DDOT Weekly GoPass Fare - $14.40
  • Seniors/Disabled (with appropriate ID card) - $0.50 One-Way Fare; Transfer $0.10
  • Children (limit 3/under 44" with adult) - Free
  • DDOT/SMART Regional Monthly Pass - $49.50

[edit] See also

Detroit People Mover

[edit] External links